Customer Reviews

Lest Darkness Fall

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CONCEPT: A History professor is whisked back in time to Rome; only a few years before it's about to fall; with his foresight he attempts to not only create a living for himself but, at a later point, to stop the fall of Rome

HISTORY SETTING: 6th century Italy; very interesting setup. I didn't know much about it and rarely is it covered except in passing as they focus on other parts of the world. DeCamp knows his material.

PACING: The story is only 260 pages long which is small for today's fantasy novels which go from 600 to 1000 pages. No particular story lasted a long time. Decamp would jump from conflict to conflict. In essence, it began with little problems, moving its way up and up to the bigger and more political ones. And, there are plenty. In fact, there are so many plots and intrigues and obstacles and conflicts, that it keeps moving along. Padway will solve one problem but then pick up at least one problem or more.

CONTEXT: Sprague knew his Roman History. There were several Historical points he factored into the story that allowed him to outthink his opponents. Moreover, I got a feel for the setting with the incense wafting out of a door, the togas, the smell of manure, the louse coming out of the maid's armpit . . . etc etc. Unlike some people, one felt they were truly living in this era. Sprague hit you with all of the senses: sight, smell, touch, sound.

OVERALL STRUCTURE: DeCamp is really good at his structure and surprises and pacing. Basically, I would divide this book up into three sections. The first part is laying down the ground work as Padway tries to figure out what has happened, to justify it, to make a living with the help of a merchant and open up a brandy sill. As high reps demand bribes, he begins to get involved in politics to a lesser extent. From there, he starts to expand his business and make friends. In the last third, which is probably half of the novel, he starts to run Rome. Puts the old emperor back on and uses him as sort of a puppet. Moves the capitol to Ravenna since that's one of the few spots which wasn't attacked by Goths. He wins the love of a Goth princess, dumps her to another man and then gets ready for several attacks upon Rome. Leads forces twice against Belisarius and then Bloody John.

WHY IT WORKED FOR ME: Other than the reasons stated above, I like Roman History and there were some very funny parts; especially in the dialogue!

FLAWS: Someone made the point that Padway was a little too ingenius at creating future inventions, as well as at maneuvering amongst all the political intrigues. There may be some validity to it but one who has studied such things wouldn't be hard pressed otherwise. It may have been a good idea to have shown that he knew of such things before since the typical professor wouldn't be able to make them nor perform political intrigues.

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book and had to replace it at least once. De Camp's depiction of the life, events and people of post-Imperial Italy are dead on accurate as far as I can tell, and the fictional aspect of the work is highly engaging.

The book gives away its 1938 vintage, when the protagonist Martin Padway is able to exchange about $5.00 worth of modern Italian coins for 93 post-Imperial silver sesterces, enabling him to survive his first 72 hours in old Rome. He could do this, of course, because in 1938 Italy, like most countries, still circulated real silver coins. I can't help wondering how the protagonist would have fared if he only had today's inflated zinc and tin tokens?

While on an expedition to Mussolini's Italy, young American Martin Padway is struck by lightning. When he comes to, he discovers himself to have been inexplicably transported to the waning days of the Roman Empire. Quickly realizing that he has no hope of returning home, Padway resolves to prop up the flagging Western Empire and stave off the approaching dark ages. But is he politically astute enough to handle the destructive forces within and without Rome?

L. Sprague De Camp's "Lest Darkness Fall" is justly considered a classic of science fiction. It's a time travel story, but it is also cited by many as an early example of the alternate history genre. So its influence cannot be understated.

De Camp is not aiming for gravity, which is probably a good thing. The book is a breezy, plot-driven adventure, not a meditation on history. Padway is a well-developed character, if perhaps a little TOO competent and resourceful. Upon realizing his predicament, Padway hunts up the basics, including a dwelling and a source of income, first with brandy, and then with a newssheet. However, Padway makes a quick jump from brandy merchant and printer to power-broker with surprising speed and confidence. He manipulates royalty and leads battles, surprising himself with his ruthlessness. While De Camp's story flirts with implausibility, it never enters the realm of ridiculous.

The supporting characters are generally likeable archetypes, like the banker who speaks to God, the formerly-rich soldier who has been reduced to acting as Padway's bodyguard, the senile monarch, and so on. They serve the story and Padway's quest. Moreover, while De Camp knows the history of the era, he opts for broad strokes, acknowledging the fractured nature of Christianity, the tension between West and East, and the multi-cultural state of Rome at this time. It's probably for the best, as this isn't a treatise on the fall of Rome, but a story about Padway. Nonetheless, the reader may feel slightly adrift in generally unfamiliar era.

"Lest Darkness Falls" is a book that satisfies the reader's desire for a good adventure, if not the desire for brain-food. It's an entertaining tale, and is worth reading on its own merits, as well as an artifact of sci-fi.

Lest Darkness Fall is an amusing, time-travel, alternative-history novel, written in 1939. Our hero, Martin Padway (soon to become Martinus Paduei), is an American archeologist who is visiting Italy, and is transported to sixth-century Gothic Italy, threatened by Justinian forces, Franks, and others. Martin's goal becomes to prevent the encroaching Dark Ages by using his knowledge of history and modern technology. He soon introduces the printing press and paper stock (putting out newspapers and books), double-entry bookkeeping (helping him secure bank loans), distilling of brandy (earning him lots of money), a telegraph system, and more modern military methods, and he also frees the serfs--all in his attempt to alter history. Much of this leads to a lot of funny dialogue and some suspense, as do his encounters with church and political officials, generals, kings, and aristocrats.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It does not seem dated, and it held my interest with its technological and historical developments, which were intended to prevent the fall of the late Western Roman Empire, as well as with its many comic characters.

Synopsis: Lest Darkness Fall was written just before WWII. Martin Padway is visiting the Pantheon in Rome when he is struck by lightning. The shock is nothing compared to finding himself in post-imperial Rome, about 550 C.E.

Fortunately for him and the reader, he speaks some Latin. He's an archeologist, so he knows some about the period. He meets some interesting "Romans," most of whom are Goths or Lebanese or Jews or Moors. Since his survival is paramount, he does what an American would do: he goes into business.

Brandy is unheard of in Rome. Padway wants to build a still but first he has to invent the machines he needs to build the things he needs for the still. Each step earns him a little money. It also brings him to the attention of the corrupt Romans and the Church, who are convinced he's practicing witchcraft. Padway knows that the surest way to die in this time is to get involved with either the church or politics. He wants no part of either.

With is distilling business on solid footing, Padway "invents" the printing press. He wants to publish a newspaper, but there is no paper. He wipes out the city's supply of velum in his first edition then has to invent paper. He also has to invent an ink that will work in his press. More attention from church and state.

War is brewing. Padway knows it. He knows that Rome will be devastated, so he starts preparing to move his businesses out of Rome to Ravenna, which he knows will be safe during the wars. Neither the church nor the state likes his preparations. He must be practicing witchcraft of treason.

Padway has no choice but to get involved if he wants to save his businesses or his skin.

What I thought: Lest Darkness Fall is a science fiction version of Twain's immortal Connecticut Yankee. It has more story and less social commentary, but the history is accurate, the sociology well done and the technology fascinating.

De Camp does a great job of getting Padway into trouble. Padway is smart enough to get himself out of trouble. His solutions always manage to make him a little money and dig him a little deeper.

The story is interesting and hilarious.

I love this book. In Mussolii's Italy, professor is zapped back to very late Roman Empire, when the Goths basically rule. He has some adventures a la "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" but he does not always know how to bring in modern inventions, unlike Twain's Yankee. Can you make gunpowder out of raw materials? What would it really be like to be a modern man in those days? Lots of fun.

Lest Darkness Fall is a L. Sprague de Camp book dealing with a modern (1930's) man being transported from modern Rome to Rome circa 535 CE. As in The Compleat Enchanter (Millennium Fantasy Masterworks S.), the main character (Martin Padway) has to deal with the few things he has with him when he's transported and must "establish" himself. However unlike The Compleat Enchanter series, Martin doesn't have control of how long he in 535 CE Rome.

This book is a fast reader that captures your attention. The situation and environment are nicely described, not to much to distract the reader, but enough to bring you into the book and to let you become interested in Martin's situation. Some parts of the book are slightly dated (Mr. de Camp started work on this book in 1939) but it doesn't hinder the plot in the least. Characters are nicely described, but could have used a little more background for those not familiar with the era. Dialog is interesting because Mr. de Camp does attempt (and does a fair job) to show the different types of Latin being spoken by the different characters (Goths, Romans, Roman citizens from foreign countries, and Martin) and you get to see how Martin's linguistic skills improve with the native. As for the plot, the book opens with a with Martin trying to survive day-to-day and eventually recognizing the `historical' situation he's in and attempting to modify it for his betterment. A good 4 star book you can enjoy on a nice night or weekend. If Mr. de Camp didn't follow this one up, I believe there's an excellent opening for another writer to let us know the impacts Martin had on 'history'.

It was a freak accident. Young Martin Padway, an American historian specializing in the late Roman and Gothic period just prior to the fall of the Dark Ages in Europe, is struck by lightning. When he awakes he finds he has been transported in time and has landed smack in the middle of his specialty. His memory, his intimate knowledge of upcoming events, his physical stamina, his language abilities, his political acumen and his ability to adapt to bizarre situations will all be put to the test as he struggles to survive in his new home. Adapting to a new life as Martinus Paduei, he first borrows money from a Jewish money lender to start a business distilling brandy in order to simply earn his living. But, as Martinus Paduei,he realizes he can put his knowledge and skills to work to the much more demanding task of averting the onset of the Dark Ages entirely.

The basic plot premise of "Lest Darkness Fall", it must be admitted, was not particularly original. "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" deserves first place honours for originality in stories of this type. But to give de Camp his due, by allowing his hero to actually change history in meaningful ways - to develop distilling, to introduce double-entry bookkeeping, printing and newspapers, Arabic numerals and revolutionary notions of astronomy - and, indeed, to achieve the rather daunting task of stemming the tide of barbarism in sixth century Italy, a case can be made that de Camp introduced an entirely new genre to the reading public - alternate history.

That said, "Lest Darkness Fall" just didn't really work for me. I found the writing stilted, cluttered and quite prosaic. Dialogue was forced and, even with the bounds of a fictional novel, I thought the abilities attributed to Padway stretched the limits of credibility to the breaking point and beyond. So, how do we rate this one? Some interesting moments of humour and innovations in the creation of a new genre of story-telling move this from a one or two star rather bland tale to a three star pick for me. I certainly can't say that I'm moved to recommend it to the public at large but as a classic tale of science fiction that has its place in the history of the genre, it can be recommended to devoted sci-fi readers. A page-turner, however, it most certainly is not!

Paul Weiss

"Lest Darkness Fall" is an early work by science fiction and sword & sorcery mainstay L. Sprague de Camp, famous today as a popularizer of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Cimmerian character. This book is basically a rip off of Mark Twain's classic novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," but there is enough imagination to make it worth reading. The story has been told by other reviewers. Briefly, it is about an American archaeologist working in Rome who, after being informed of his colleague's unusual theories of time travel, is struck by lightening and accidentally travels through time in exactly the same way his friend described. What are the odds of that happening? Haha. He finds himself in Rome after the empire has split in half, shortly before the sacking of Rome by the barbarians. Our protagonist goes into business, invents things, and tries to avoid getting mixed up in religion and politics because he realizes that would be bad for his health.

There are many obvious connections to Twain's book. For example, when our protagonist invents the printing press and starts a newspaper, one gets the feeling that he only did it because Twain's Yankee did. But the technological problems in "Less Darkness Fall" are more practical and serious than in "Yankee". Twain wanted to emphasize that people in King Arthur's time were ignorant, unenlightened, irrational, spiritualist, idiots. De Camp in contrast portrays his Byzantines as entirely intelligent and rational people lacking modern knowledge (who happen to get themselves mixed up in church/state conflicts too much). De Camp doesn't know if he is writing a science fiction or a fantasy, but Twain was obiously trying to write classic literature in the form of a tall tale. Although Twain's book is excellent, it is too pompous (even in it's efforts to lampoon pompousness) and fatalistic. De Camp's book is just good fun.

Lest Darkness Fall is cheesier than maccoroni and hokier than the hokey-pokey, but it is a great read. It's a dumb story and badly written with only semi-interesting characters. This is certainly not good literature. This book only deserves 3 stars, but I give it 4 because I enjoyed it so incredibly much. I'll probably read this again some day.

Wonderful novel by L. Sprague DeCamp. It's a period piece, but so well written you don't care. Plus once you get back to ancient Rome you don't care anymore. My only complaint was that the book was as slender as it was, you are left wanting more. A must have for a true fan of classic science fiction.